Every year is celebrated a Fela Day (few weeks ago in Paris), proving that Fela Kuti's spirit is still gliding around, despite a very varied comprehension. Good occasion anyway to search in muzzicaltrips archives, and look at how evolves perception of african music along the years. Here's an article about Fela Kuti which reveals part of the perception of a jazz magazine from 1981 (Jazz Hot, first jazz magazine in Europe created in 1935).
Here's a unique musical project auto produced by Dane Belany and release in New York by Sahara label. Influences are clear: dedicated to Frantz Fanon, and lyrics from several songs inspired by Aimée Cesaire or David Diop (senegalese pan-africanist poet from the 50s).
Here's another Fela Kuti afrobeat cover, from an artist I initially thought was from Suriname, but i finally discovered he was from Cabo Verde. This country being a portuguese colony, Johnny Rodrigues was supposed to serve in portuguese army to fight Angola independence movement, but he could avoidit flying to the US with his family, and then lived in Netherland during the mid 70s. He recorded this LP in 1974, including the track "Hey Mal Yo", which is inspired from traditional Portuguese folk song and dance called "O Malhão" (meaning the winnover), and which became N°1 in dutch charts in 1975. Another track in the album is the Fela Kuti cover Lady, here played with a nice funky groove.
Johnny and his Orquesta Rodriguez - African Woman:
Many artists worlwide covered Fela Kuti songs. Try the afrocolombian weird version of Shakara HERE, or a jazz fusion cover HERE, or a mandingo afrobeat-inspired senegalese folk HERE. Lady lyrics:
Last sunday at La Bellevilloise, Femi Kuti hold a private concert to launch his next album. Although I prefer the father than the son, his orginal approach and positive vibration made the atmosphere pretty hot...
This is good opportunity to introduce here a remix realised in 2009 by Babaliah (Palmwine Records) from a Femi Kuti song. One step forward in afrobeat inspired sounds...
I recommend to listen to this (re)reading the great liner notes from Analog Africa compilations (big up Samy) to perceive the context of these productions and this musical era.
From the 60s avant garde jazz to the 70s jazz rock fusion, Michael White had opportunity to play his violin with many kind of musicians. He released 3 LPs on Capitol with his band The Fourth Way, then various albums as leader on Impulse, and worked as sideman for Pharoah Sanders or Alice Coltrane.
The Land of Spirit and Light is a creative melodic and percussive mixture, allowing space for improvisations supported by Cecil McBee punchy bassline. This track is a unique trip around Fela Kuti's "Egbe Mi O"... Michael White seems to suggest that Spirit and Light are to be found (or at least searched) in Africa.
Michael White - The Land of Sipirt and Light (Part 3):
Michael White (violin)
Kenny Jenkins (vocals)
Bobby King (guitar, classical guitar)
Bob King (classical guitar)
Cecil McBee (bass instrument)
Stanley Nash (vocals)
Prince Lasha (flute, alto flute, piccolo, clarinet)
Ed Kelly (piano)
Kenneth Nash (percussion)
Ever heard a Fela Kuti track played by capeverdean artist based in Holland?! Check HERE.
